Professional boundaries in a person-centred paradigm

Since Valuing People (Department of Health, 2001), there has been a marked change in landscape for housing support and service provision for people with a learning disability. Care and supported living options are now provided by a myriad of providers across the healthcare, social-care and independent sectors. Due to the complexity of such individualized care arrangements, and the non-traditional roles of such service professionals and providers, examination of professional role boundaries with service users is essential; traditional role boundaries are not easily transferable or considered within such professional supports and services. This article discusses important facets of professional boundaries that impact directly on such contemporary, learning disability, person-centred services.